Genre 4, Book 1: MINERALS by Sally M. Walker

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Bibliographic Data  

Walker, Sally M. 2007. Minerals (Early Bird Earth Science). Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company. ISBN: 0822566206.

Plot Summary

This book explains what minerals are and discusses their properties. It describes how minerals make rocks, and gives examples of how minerals are used in modern life.

Critical Analysis 

Written for children ages 9-12, Minerals is a well-organized book that provides chapters, a glossary, and an index. It also includes a page listing books and websites for further learning opportunities, and a page with a note to adults who want to share the book with kids on how to make the experience enjoyable and successful.

The first chapter explains what a mineral is. The second chapter explores their properties, and discusses two common tests used – scratch tests and streak plates. Vivid photographs of a variety of minerals show their beauty and features. Chapter three explains how rocks become minerals, and chapter 4 explores how people use minerals in their daily lives. The book use age-appropriate language and teaches geology words to the reader, providing simple phonetic assistance next to each word so one can quickly learn how to pronounce them. The large-print text delves into information readers would naturally be curious about when studying rocks and minerals for the first time, like explaining why minerals come in different shapes and colors.

I’ve been a rock hound since childhood, and found the information presented in this book to be both accurate and interesting. I even learned a few things I didn’t know, like what mineral is used to make aluminum!  With a clear voice guiding the reader through the wonderful world of minerals, Walker informs, entertains, and appeals to the reader’s natural curiosity about our world.

Awards 

Sally M. Walker is a prolific children’s book writer who usually writes nonfiction. She has won numerous awards for her works, including:

• American Library Association (ALA) Notable Book
• American Library Association (ALA) / Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults
• A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book
• Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Choice
• Cybils Finalist
• ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award Finalist
• Moonbeam Children's Book Award - Bronze Medal
• National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) / Children's Book Council (CBC) Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children Recommended Book
• National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) / Children's Book Council (CBC) Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12
• Science Books & Films Best Books for Junior High and Young Adult Readers
• School Library Journal Best Book
• Society of School Librarians International (SSLI) Honor Book
• Tayshas Reading List
• Texas Library Association Lone Star Reading List
• YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist

Reviews 

Rock & Gem: "Have you ever wondered exactly what a mineral is? Minerals, by Sally M. Walker (Lerner Publishing Group, 2007), is a good introduction to the subject. Is a mineral alive? Which precious gem and common mineral are made of the same kind of atom? How does the arrangement of a mineral's atom determine how it looks? This book will tell you. Learn how hardness, color, crystal shape, and appearance can help you tell different minerals apart. Find out what roles water, fire and pressure play in turning minerals into different types of rocks. Discover how people use minerals every day and what minerals occur inside your body. Minerals is part of Lerner's Early Bird Earth Science series of picture books for ages 9 to 12. The 48-page hardcover book features large type, color photos, and a glossary with a pronunciation guide."

Library Media Connection: "These are well-written, superbly illustrated, factual books that explain the earth to young readers. … This is a very good series to cover the beginning geology basics for any reader. Glossary. Index. Recommended."

Connections

Enrichment Activities 

I first got interested in rocks and minerals by going on rock hunts with my grandfather as a child. If you have a local kid-friendly area with a variety of rocks available for children to walk about and pick up (a schoolyard, park, or local dry riverbed), going on a short rock hunt is a great way to get kids outside exploring the world and learning about geology.

There are already numerous activities available online for learning about rocks and minerals, including:

• This website offers information for kids to learn how to identify minerals and rocks, their properties, and normal characteristics: http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=16293http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=16293
• This website provides fun activities for young children to learn about rocks and minerals, as well as offers some cute rock jokes: http://library.thinkquest.org/J002289/index.html
• This website offers games and quizzes for mineral-minded children: http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/minerals/games.htm
• This website provides a list of websites that have activities and information on rocks and minerals for kids: http://www.proteacher.com/110073.shtml

Other Books by Walker:

• Fossils (Early Bird Earth Science) by Sally M. Walker (Lerner Classroom, 2007)
• Rocks (Early Bird Earth Science) by Sally M. Walker (Lerner Classroom, 2007)
• We Are the Weather Makers: The History of Climate Change by Sally M. Walker and Tim Flannery (Candlewick, 2010)
• Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovering the Coelacanth  by Sally M. Walker (Carolrhoda Books, 2002)
• Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter (On My Own Biography) by Sally M. Walker and Phyllis V. Saroff (First Avenue Editions, 2007)
• Bessie Coleman: Daring to Fly (On My Own Biography) by Sally M. Walker (Carolrhoda Books, 2003)
• Rays (Nature Watch) by Sally M. Walker (Carolrhoda Books, 2003)
• Seahorse Reef: A Story of the South Pacific by Sally M. Walker (Smithsonian Books, 2007)
• Pulleys (Early Bird Physics Series) by Sally M. Walker, Roseann Feldmann, and Andy King (Lerner Classroom, 2001)
• Glaciers (Early Bird Earth Science) by Sally M. Walker (Lerner Classroom, 2007)
• Light (Early Bird Energy) by Sally M. Walker (Lerner Classroom, 2006)

Related Readings:

• Rocks and Minerals (Eye Wonder) by DK Publishing (DK Children, 2004)
• Archaeologists Dig for Clues (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) by Kate Duke (Collins, 1996)
• Let's Go Rock Collecting (Let’s-Read-And-Find-Out Science. Stage 2) by Roma Gans (Collins, 1997)
• Looking at Rocks (My First Field Guides) by Jennifer Dussling (Grosset & Dunlap, 2001)
• Rocks: Hard, Soft, Smooth, and Rough (Amazing Science) by Natalie M. Rosinsky (Picture Window Books, 2006)
• Geology Rocks!: 50 Hands-On Activities to Explore the Earth (Kaleidoscope Kids) by Cindy Blobaum (Williamson Pub, 1999)